Leaftree & Downey, Wet Kisses

Leaftree & Downey, Wet Kisses - Leaftree & Downey is the brainchild of artist/painter Downey Burns. I've never heard his music before so I'll admit, he caught me off guard. I'd heard negative opinions about Leaftree & Downey's sound, so I wasn't expecting much when I got his fourth release, Wet Kisses, in the mail. When I pressed play on the CD player, though, one word alone came to mind: Charming. There is a quality about this band that is purely and simply charming.

Everything about Wet Kisses is light-hearted and fun. The vocals have a gentle, friendly feeling complimented by a light effects filter. The vocal melody is always slightly off, but adds to the music in a way that seems calculated and purposeful. The music is mostly piano/keyboard, light drums, and gentle, casual electronics flowing throughout, with a little harmonica and electric guitar for good measure. Wet Kisses leaves the impression that Burns lives in a relaxed world, and this is his attempt to bring a little of that relaxed world to his audience.

When I play Leaftree and Downey's Wet Kisses my spirit seems to lift. It's hard to be in a bad mood when I listen to this release. I do have a problem with Wet Kisses, though. The sound never really shifts. While I start with a lifted spirit, five minutes into the first track I'm ready for a new song. While not all the songs are so long, multiple tracks back-to-back share a similar effect. I honestly believe each track has the ability to stand on its own in a randomized playlist. The album as a whole, though, has a ten to fifteen minute life span before my light heart and mind become restless and ready to soar on to new sounds. The entire Wet Kisses release is currently available free to download and order (for a suggested donation) from http://www.leaftreeanddowney.com. This release does deserve to be heard and appreciated by the right ears and, especially at the asking price, I'd say it is worth the listen.